Deer-Resistant Edibles (usually)

I had an email this week from a lady who had purchased the plans for my Critter-Resistant Vegetable Garden, but realized that it wouldn't be installed in time to protect this seasons fruit and vegetables. That got me thinking as like some other gardeners, I have incorporated a few deer-resistant edibles such as rhubarb into my regular landscaping for their ornamental value in the past, so maybe I could offer some additional suggestions to help her this year?

Knowing that many of you also battle with deer in your garden I decided to share those ideas here – with the disclaimer that I have not tried all of these myself, so I would love to hear your experience, good or bad. Do share by adding a comment below so others can benefit too.

General Principles

Deer tend to avoid those plants with strong fragrance, bitter taste, or prickly/hairy textures (yes, I know they eat roses – but in fairness they eat the flowers, not the thorny stems!) They also don't dig…more about that later.

Edibles rarely damaged

Rhubarb is a wonderful addition to the landscape with its bold foliage – and much cheaper than ornamental Rheum!

Asparagus

Root vegetables e.g. carrots BUT they may eat the tops…..which means of course the carrots won't grow…

Onions, leeks, garlic

Cucumber

Eggplant

Globe artichokes

Hot peppers

Rhubarb

Tomatoes

Herbs

Chives, dill, fennel, lavender, lemon balm, mint, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme

Edibles occasionally damaged (take care to protect young shoots)

Squash can be tempting to hungry deer

Bok Choy

Brussels sprouts (clearly intelligent deer)

Melons

Okra

Potatoes (the leaves)

Radish

Rutabagas

Squash

Herbs

Basil, cilantro

Deer Caviar

I grow beans inside my fenced vegetable garden

That's right – don't even think about it…

Apples

Beans

Beets

Berries (most) inc. strawberries

Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage

Carrot (tops)

Chard

Kohlrabi

Lettuce

Peas

Pears

Plums

Spinach

Corn

Turnip (tops)

TIP:

Spanning a wide path, a series of metal archways create a sturdy structure against which apple trees are trained at RHS Harlow Carr – this could work for deer if they are out of their reach

Try growing apples on an overhead arch, out of their reach. I do that with roses.

Tired of the Battle/ Guessing Game?

Read my blog post about my personal war of the parsnips and learn more about our critter-resistant vegetable garden design. Spoiler alert ; it even works for wallabies…

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5 Comments

  1. Ann Storey on April 15, 2025 at 8:29 am

    We're completely overrun with deer on the Steamboat Island Peninsula, north of Olympia. They will eat everything in the onion family, so that you can't even find the bulbs underground. They also eat the whole tomato plant (but spit out the tomato fruit–ruined with one bite in each!) So it depends on how heavy your deer pressure is whether you can get away with edibles. We've had to put deer fencing around the whole veg plot, but twice they've broken down the fencing and eaten everything except the sage…ugh.

    • Karen Chapman on April 28, 2025 at 11:11 am

      Hi Ann, thanks so much for sharing your experience with us all – your deer sound exceptionally tenacious!

  2. Jean Weaver on April 26, 2025 at 10:44 am

    So helpful to have this more specific information especially including deer caviar vegetables. Now I understand why my bean leaves both bush and pole and especially the blue lake beans were eaten inspite of Remay and netting. The deer found them irresistible. Each deer must have their favorites of specific vegetables and varieties. They eat the top leaves and stems off of every tomato favoring black krim and black prince. One type of handsome large rhubarb leaf is a favorite and the other untouched. Cucumber and squash are untouched. And they ate the top leaves and berries off the raspberries. I don’t mind sharing but do mind when I have a year like last year with no edible beans or tomatoes. This will be the year of the critter fence.

    • Karen Chapman on April 28, 2025 at 11:12 am

      Hi Jean, thanks for your feedback – I hope my critter-resistant design helps you finally enjoy those caprese salads this year! Your deer have very discerning tastes it seems!

      • Jean Weaver on April 28, 2025 at 12:13 pm

        Yes the deer are surprisingly discerning and they also really favor the Julia Childs rose next to the vegetable garden. I guess the urban and suburban deer near me are learning more about their available food menu’s.

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